University of Western Australia research fellow Ferdous Sohel, said a demand for knowledge about sharks had boosted the level of research.

"In terms of research, we are now one step ahead and we are maybe leading the rest of the world," he said.

Science and Innovation Minister John Day said the state government could even profit from all this research, if ideas proved profitable.

Western Australia is now the shark attack capital of the world.

He said there would be a sharing of intellectual property between the state, the universities and industry partners.

"It is possible there could be some return if there is a good commercial outcome; there could be some return to tax payers of Western Australia," Mr Day said.

A sign advising of a beach closure after a shark sighting.

Work on four research projects into the use of strobe lights, underwater sound effects, shark shields, computer algorithms to deter sharks is set to take place in laboratories with captive sharks and along the West Australian coast in 2013.

The effort to find ways to detect and deter sharks is also expected to head to South Australia and South Africa, where great white shark populations are more prominent, and are therefore considered good testing grounds.

Guidelines for killing sharks were created at the end of November and while they allowed for sharks to be killed even if an attack had not taken place, no sharks have yet been deemed a big enough risk to be killed.

There has been a heightened sense of interest in shark movements and many in WA are more aware of shark sightings.

Authorities have encouraged people to use social media to keep updated on sightings and be aware of risks.

Surf Lifesaving Western Australia has worked hard to keep people informed and provide tips to reduce the public’s contact with sharks.

West Australians have become accustomed to reading tweets such as this one from Surf Lifesaving WA; "To reduce the likelihood of contact with a shark: Leave the water immediately if a shark is sighted."

As well as social media alerts telling us about the size and whereabouts of sharks, reports of shark encounters and sharks monitored in WA waters have also become a constant within local media.

According to Sentia Media, West Australian media outlets have produced almost 15,000 stories on sharks so far this year.

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Despite the increased sense of concern about sharks in our waters, Perth's busy beaches when the weather goes beyond the mid 30s are a sign people are still willing to face the water.

In an online poll earlier this year, while 46 per cent of people said they would alter their behaviour in reaction to the fatal shark attacks, more than a quarter said that the risk of sharks would not stop them making the most of the ocean.